Hi All
First, I would suggest that everyone who comments on this does obtain a copy of the transcript, before voicing opinions. At least that way we will be more thorough in our research than the NPR reporter!
This piece is typical of sloppy, irresponsible journalism, which sought to do a short so-called balanced piece without researching the story. The journalist takes at face value and uses as fact all the quotes from the so-called experts, and uses loaded, judgemental phrases such as "suggests", "believes" "concedes" "claims" "insists" and "acknowledges" (instead of "says") to bias the article. For example, "Gardner acknowledges that the leukemia research is relatively new but insists the Type I diabetes prevention data is solid." This implicitly undermines what Larry Gartner (whose name is spelled wrong in the transcript - more sloppiness) says. They also take what Joe Sanders "says" (there are no biased phrases introducing his words)  - that "three female pediatricians" alerted the AAP to the strategy - at face value. (Where did this latest AAP story spring from????).
A few LactNetters have asked about the validity of the research. The research is valid. (At BMC as one of the 18 CDPs, we have listened to all this for months). The DHHS anticipated that when the Campaign launched, there would be a backlash from the formula industry, and they knew many would criticize the campaign tactics. THey did not intend to change the approach, but they did make the research as solid as was humanly possible, looking at many studies and using medical experts to review it.
At this point, the official reason the Diabetes ad has been withdrawn is that mothers will not understand the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The official reason the leukemia ad has been withdrawn is that pediatricians are not aware of the data.
The next big brouhaha will come when the USBC meets with DHHS late Jan to see what is actually the prognosis for the Campaign. I do not see in the NPR piece anything new to suggest the changes will be any bigger than anything we have heard about previously. This is a superficial report and it does not advance the news story any further.
One other comment - let us be ultra careful when talking to the media, because it is easy to twist what is said, especially when the journalist uses words like "admits" or "concedes" to preface what you say. Speak only in sound bytes and don't tell them anything loose or unclear.
When we CDPs all spoke in mid Dec, the Office on Womens health were only aware of about 400 letters having been sent. I am not sure if this included all the emails. But any US lactnetter who has not sent an email or a letter to Tommy Thompson, or to the Office of Womens Health, to support the Campaign in its original form, pls do it NOW so that they know the issue has not gone away.
Because it won't
Anne Merewood
Boston MEdical Center

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